Dignitaries, from left, Premier Allison Redford, Alberta Lieut.-Gov. Don Ethell, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mayor Naheed Nenshi sat in the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5, 2013.Jason Franson/pool
/ For the Calgary Herald

Colleen Klein got hug as she entered the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5, 2013.Jason Franson/pool
/ For the Calgary Herald

Members of the public gathered around the tribute photo following the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5, 2013.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen were welcomed by Calgary Deputy Mayor Diane Colley-Urquhart as they arrived at the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Jason Franson
/ Canadian Press Pool ofor the Calgary Herald

A member of the Honour Guard saluted as McGinnis and Holloway employee Gille Douville placed the urn of the ashes of Ralph Klein on the memorial table during the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Jason Franson
/ Canadian Press Pool ofor the Calgary Herald

Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien arrived at the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Collen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke during the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Jason Franson
/ Canadian Press Pool for the Calgary Herald

Premier Allison Redford arrived at the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Members of the public waited patiently in line prior to the Public Celebration of Life for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Colleen Klein, left and Mayor Naheed Nenshi walk down Stephen Avenue Mall to attend the Ralph Klein memorial at the Jack Singer in Calgary, Alberta on April 5.Leah Hennel
/ Calgary Herald

The Klein motorcade leaves McDougall Centre and drives through 5th ave. SW to the Jack Singer Concert Hall for the memorial service on April 5.Edward Tsang
/ Calgary Herald

Colleen Klein, wife of Ralph Klein, speaks to the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta Donald Ethell at the Alberta government ceremony for her late husband at the McDougall Centre in Calgary, Alberta Friday, April 5.Stuart Gradon
/ Calgary Herald

Colleen Klein, wife of Ralph Klein, arrives at a Alberta government ceremony for her late husband at the McDougall Centre in Calgary.Stuart Gradon
/ Calgary Herald

Colleen Klein, wife of Ralph Klein, arrives at a Alberta government ceremony for her late husband at the McDougall Centre in CalgaryStuart Gradon
/ Calgary Herald

Former politician Stockwell Day walked into the Jack Singer Concert Hall for the public memorial for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on April 5, 2013.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Workers get the red carpet ready for the Ralph Klein service at City Hall.Leah Hennel
/ Calgary Herald

Hundreds of people lines up early to wait for the public memorial for Ralph Klein at the Jack Singer Concert Hall.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Severely normal Albertans and more than a few dignitaries tuned into Ralph's World for one last time Friday for a sometimes tearful but mostly joyful celebration of "a humble man who accomplished great things."

The sorrowful lament of bagpipes and the soulful strains of Ian Tyson's Four Strong Winds at the Jack Singer Concert Hall swiftly gave way to jokes and jibes revolving around Ralph Klein, the affable Alberta premier and Calgary mayor who, during his reign, was the most popular politician in Canada.

Master of Ceremonies Dave Bron-connier said Klein was as comfortable with presidents as he was with regular folks, but his heart was really with the mythical Martha and Henry he was always referring to in his speeches - what the premier frequently called "severely normal" Albertans.

"It really was his secret weapon," said Bronconnier, a former Calgary mayor. "Ralph really loved getting out speaking to people, but more importantly, he loved listening to people."

Klein, who was Alberta's premier for 14 years from 1992 to 2006, died March 29 at age 70 in a long-term care facility after a battle with dementia and lung disease.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Klein was likely amused by the title, 'King Ralph,' that was bestowed upon him when he swept 74 of the province's 83 seats in the 2001 election.

"He was King Ralph only in the sense of being a king-sized character," said Harper.

"But in personality and demeanour he was really to us, Citizen Ralph. He said what he would do and then he did what he said."

Former deputy premier Shirley McClellan called Klein the "most popular premier in Canada," while Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Klein showed Albertans that "we didn't have to be something we're not (in order) to be amazing."

"He taught us that we - as Calgar-ians, as Albertans - are great and can be great."

Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris, who became a close friend of Klein after a number of premiers' conferences, fishing trips, golf games and card games, had the crowd of 1,800 chuckling with his stories about Klein's antics at many of those gatherings.

A former golf pro, Harris noted that Klein embraced the golf term 'mulligan' or so-called 'do-overs' - "and he took lots of them."

Harris called Klein a good friend and mentor and one of Canada's most successful political leaders.

"For me, the name Ralph is synonymous with courage and conviction."

Former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow also joked about golfing with Klein, but concluded with heartfelt words for his family and friends.

"Be comforted that Ralph left Alberta and Canada stronger, that he strengthened our democracy, that he improved our way of life, and in his own words, the best is yet to come. We can ask for no more."

Alberta Premier Alison Redford said Klein truly deserved his status as a man of the people and he had an "unbreakable and unshakable bond with the people he represented."

"He set a standard for political leadership in this province and across this country that we all aspire to," she said.

The memorial, held under sombre skies on a chilly Alberta spring day, began with a motorcade through Calgary.

Pipers played Amazing Grace as the motorcade arrived at city hall for a brief ceremony before his wife Colleen Klein and family were escorted by foot to the concert hall.

There, a lone piper led a four-person honour guard of RCMP, sheriffs, city police and firefighters escorting Klein's ashes to the stage.

To the left of the stage, former Klein-era premiers sat together: Dalton McGuinty (Ontario), Gary Doer (Manitoba), Dennis Fentie (Yukon) and former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Former Alberta premier Ed Stelmach also attended, as did former Quebec premier Jean Charest and current Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

Earlier, as they were entering the hall, many former and current politicians stopped to share their memories of Alberta's 12th premier.

"He was a good premier and when we were in tough corners, you know, he was sensible and he was responsible and he was agreeable too," said Chretien. "That's why I came to pay my respects."

Jim Dinning, who served as Klein's finance minister when the government made massive cuts to the budget and reordered the province's finances, said Klein's death marked "the end of an era."

Lorne Calvert, the former NDP premier of Saskatchewan, and former Manitoba premier Gary Doer said Klein always urged them to remember "Martha and Henry" - his embodiment of regular folks - when they drafted policy.

"He knew what he believed in, he knew how to cut to the chase, he knew how to communicate with people so they felt included in the decisions he made," said Doer, now Canada's ambassador to the United States.

As Klein would have wanted, 1,100 seats in the hall were set aside for average Albertans, who lined up for hours for admission tickets.

Rod Love, Klein's right-hand man as mayor and premier, said the day's events were "perfect. Without a hitch."

Love said Friday's memorial service showed the power of Klein's personality in the way it brought together disparate figures such as Romanow and Harris.

"You're premier for 14 years, you go through a lot of other premiers. Those were the two guys who were special to him," said Love.

"That's what we were laughing about, the right-wing madman from Ontario and the socialist bomb-thrower from Saskatchewan, only Ralph could say, 'Those are my two pals.'"

Love said he was still grappling with Klein's death, but said his legacy will endure.

"I ran with him 33 years. What's going through my head is that you still can't believe he's gone," Love added.

Related Posts

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.